Strike by courts staff to close magistrates

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has confirmed that the first ever one-day national strike of staff working in magistrates courts across England and Wales will take place on 20 December.

The stoppage over a pay increase of 2.2% will result in courts being closed and cases postponed. The one-day strike will be followed by a work to rule and possibly further strike action in the New Year.

Magistrates court staff were transferred to the Civil Service, to create a new combined agency to run magistrates, crown and county courts, called Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS), in April.

Rosie Eagleson, PCS national secretary, said: “This is not a step our members take lightly, but in the face of attempts by management to further devalue their pay, members feel they have to withdraw their labour on a national level for the first time in the magistrate courts history.”